Baba Ivyarave Ijov is my father. His two names are Ivyarave Ijov. The word "baba" is an honour accorded to old men in Tiv culture. My father performed casket burial when I was eleven years old. I could not ask him questions to gather information about him. What I am presenting here are what I have witnessed personally. The following subheadings contain the information:
Birth
Judging by the age of his eldest daughter, I reason that Baba Ivyarave Ijov was born in 1931 . His father was Ijov Azembe. His mother was..................................(popular name = Mama Agbeetse) . Ijov Azembe was an indigene of Ute, Iche Mker, Vandeikya Local Government Area, Benue State of Nigeria. However, he came and lived as a sojourner in Jato Aka, Kwande Local Government Area, Benue State of Nigeria. Mama Agbeetse was an indigene of Ukan, Gboko Local Government Area, Benue State of Nigeria. We, the descendants of Ijov Azembe, have acquired indigeneship in Jato Aka according to government laws. Go to my father's family website, .......................... and see his brothers, sisters and the extended family in general.
Informal Education
Baba Ivyarave Ijov did not attend any formal educational institution. He acquired education informally through interaction with people. Notably, he participated in politics. His regular companion was Alago Azege. His life in politics and in other areas of human endeavour earned him much education. When I met him in my childhood, I knew him with vocal ability. He spoke reasonably and fearlessly.
Work
Baba was a farmer. He cultivated yams, groundnut, cassava, rice and other food substances. Apart from farming, he engaged in a business that was known in those days as "beranda". That business involved the buying of goods to keep and sell at a later time. He earned money through farming, beranda and politics. He did not travel abroad during his life because he was not formally educated.
Marriage And Children
Baba married nine wives in life but he begat childen with only six. My mother, Mama Ingyorhena Ivyarave, was his second wife. My mother bore nine children. The other five wives also bore children and my father's children numbered up to twenty-four. Details of my father's children are found on this website,.......................Go to the website and see.
Casket Burial
Baba was declared dead on Tuesday night, 21st May, 1991 . The event was a sudden type. He did not last up to one week in sickness. He went to N.K.S.T. Hospital, Jato Aka just for stomachache. Within two days, he was transferred to N.K.S.T. Hospital, Adikpo where he was declared dead. I heard of his death on Wednesday morning, 22nd May, 1991 while I was going to school. I saw his resemblance corpse by myself in the evening of that same Wednesday. He hid somewhere. His resemblance corpse lay in state for days. It was buried on Sunday, 26th May, 1991 . I stood by the grave myself. I witnessed that Iornumbe Apine prayed after the casket of Baba was laid in the grave. When the prayer ended, the grave was closed.
Back Home
I plan to bring my father back home. Money is available. I am presently studying defence. When I fully activate my guns, I will bring him back. I will write details of his return under this subheading.
